Tell Me More About the Group Project
You will be assigned to a team. Over the course of the semester, your team will complete three research projects. Each project requires three roles: a manager, a researcher, and a designer. Roles will rotate through the three project cycles. In other words, at the end of the three cycles, you will have played all three roles.
The entire team is responsible for editing and ensuring the final product is polished and professional.
Each project results in a product chosen by the team (website, video, brochure, social media campaign, comic book, campus flyer, etc.). Part of the research project is learning how to use digital tools.
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Week One: Plan and Kick Off
The group has lots of decisions to make.
- First, decide which project you want to complete (see a list of project ideas here).
- Second, assign roles.
- Then, you will need to make some agreements about how you want to work together. I recommend scheduling a Zoom or face-to-face meeting (click here for instructions for creating Zoom meetings). Other options include working in Google docs or other collaborative platforms (click here for using the Canvas collaborative space).
Tasks:
Manager: Schedule the first team meeting. Outline project goals, crate a timeline and a submission process, then write down team agreements regarding meeting deadlines, not completing responsibilities, and other group agreements. Managers will create a project plan, meet briefly with Kelly and register for the manager support group (all the managers of a project will be on a discussion thread). Once the team decides what products will be produced, the manager is responsible for uploading content into that tool or platform. Learning how to use digital tools is part of the project assignment.
Researcher: Begin preliminary research on the project topic. Identify key areas to investigate. A research report, including APA formatted in-text citations and hyperlinks, will be presented to the team. Research also includes finding examples of whichever types of products needed for the project so that a genre analysis can occur. Researchers will register for a researcher support group.
Designer: Start brainstorming design concepts and gather inspiration. Designers will present design concepts each week and will ultimately be responsible for creating the team project. Designers must do their own research on design principles and must also learn to use the digital tools the group has chosen to produce the products that will be presented. Designers will also register for a Designer support group.
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Week Two: Research & Develop
Research includes background information about a topic, common problems and solutions, and model programs. While the researcher will be presenting to the team, each team members should engage in their own basic research so informed decisions can be made. The designer should also research models to assist in their design suggestions.
Tasks:
Manager: Make sure each member is adhering to the schedule and submitting work. If someone is slacking, the manager either completes or assigns the work to an Ai tool and documents this change in the final team report. The manager should spend time playing with the selected digital tools.
Researcher: Conduct detailed research and submit a work-in-progress draft to the team. The team will need to analyze the research and apply research to the design and development of project products. Researchers will meet briefly with Kelly.
Designer: Create initial design drafts and gather feedback from the team.
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Week Three: Research & Drafting
Research should produce enough background knowledge for team to make informed decisions about the purpose and design of final product. Managers will be submitting a management report, researchers a presentation, and designers a justification of design elements, each member will also produce a reflection report.
Tasks:
Manager: Review progress, adjust timelines if necessary, and ensure all tasks are on track. If someone is slacking, the manager either completes or assigns the work to an Ai tool and documents this change in the final team report.
Researcher: Finalize the research report. Present findings to the team.
Designer: Refine design drafts based on team feedback. Start creating final design elements. Designers meet with Kelly.
Week Four: Review and Refine
The entire team is responsible for editing and ensuring the final product is polished and professional. Additionally, the entire team will present the final project. Presentations can take place over Zoom, a multi-narration video or some other collaborative presentation platform (talk to Kelly).
Tasks:
Manager: Organize a team review session. Compile all components for a cohesive draft. Organize the presentation. If someone is slacking, the manager either completes or assigns the work to an Ai tool and documents this change in the final team report. Optional meetings with Kelly are encouraged if team process is breaking down or ineffective.
Researcher: Assist in integrating research findings into the project. Ensure all content is accurately cited. Prepare a summary of research findings for the presentation. Ensure clarity and coherence.
Designer: Finalize design elements and incorporate them into the draft. Create the presentation framework and visual aids if needed. Ensure they are visually engaging and informative.
Week Five: Present & Reflect
Presentations will be peer-reviewed and evaluated by your instructor. Additionally, each team member will reflect on the project process and discuss what worked well and areas for improvement. These individual reflections will be compared to the Manager’s report.
Tasks:
Manager: Lead the team in delivering the final presentation. Ensure smooth transitions and time management.
Researcher: Present research findings clearly and confidently. Support the team during the Q&A session if needed.
Designer: Ensure the visual aspects of the presentation are well-executed. Support the team during the presentation.
Start Next Cycle.